10. februar 2026 nyhet
Early detection of biological threats is a growing challenge for the aquaculture industry. In recent years, increased observations of Apolemia spp., colonial siphonophores commonly referred to as string jellyfish, have raised concern due to their potential to cause serious harm to farmed salmon. These organisms can occur suddenly and in large aggregations, making timely detection essential for effective mitigation.
The JellySafe project was initiated to address this challenge. At Akvaplan-niva, the project brings together molecular biology, field sampling, and applied aquaculture science to explore how near–real-time environmental DNA (eDNA) monitoring can support more proactive management strategies at fish farms.
We are proud to collaborate with senior researcher Sanna Majaneva from Akvaplan-niva and master’s student Andrea Knutsen from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) on JellySafe, contributing both USV Pamela and our eDNA sampler to support complementary sampling approaches under real operational conditions.
Developing Field-Adapted eDNA Monitoring Protocols
Andrea Knutsen’s master’s project focuses on developing and validating real-time eDNA monitoring protocols for detecting Apolemia in aquaculture environments. With increased observations of these organisms in recent years, there is a growing need for monitoring tools that can deliver results faster and closer to the field than traditional laboratory-based workflows.
“Current monitoring methods are often poorly suitable for these fragile organisms. They are often also slow and highly dependent on taxonomic expertise or specialized laboratory facilities,” Andrea explains. “That makes early detection difficult, which in turn limits the ability to respond in time.”
To address this, the JellySafe project aims to establish rapid, low-cost, and reliable eDNA methods suitable for on-site or near–real-time monitoring.
Combining Point Sampling and Transect-Based Sampling
Fieldwork for JellySafe consisted of weekly water sampling campaigns at an aquaculture site along the coast of Trøndelag in mid Norway. One of the key goals was to compare different sampling strategies and evaluate how sampling design influences eDNA detection.
Manual point samples were collected using traditional NISKIN sampler and our eDNA sampler, enabling standardized filtration directly from the aquaculture platform. In parallel, transect-based samples were collected using USV Pamela, equipped with both a plankton net and an onboard pump filtering water through eDNA filters while following predefined routes.
“Using both single-point and transects sampling allowed us to compare how different sampling strategies perform under real field conditions,” Andrea says. “It gave us a much better basis for evaluating what produces the most reliable and representative data, especially when Apolemia occurrences can be highly patchy”
By using both systems within the same project, the research team could directly compare workflows, efficiency, and data quality—demonstrating how manual and autonomous tools can complement each other rather than compete.
The comb jelly Sea gooseberry (Pleurobrachia pileus) collected from plankton net sample (Photo: Andrea Knutsen/NTNU).
Field Experience with USV Pamela
From a user perspective, Andrea describes her experience with Pamela as highly positive. One of the most appreciated aspects was the system’s simplicity and ease of use. Despite limited prior experience with uncrewed vehicles, she was able to operate the USV effectively after minimal training.
“Pamela proved very user-friendly, easy to operate, and effective in collecting all required samples,” Andrea explains. “The modular structure allowed us to adapt the platform to our sampling needs with relatively little effort.”
For JellySafe, Pamela’s autonomous operation mode was particularly valuable. Pre-programmed transects allowed the USV to collect samples autonomously while Andrea simultaneously collected manual point samples using the pump system. This significantly streamlined fieldwork and improved efficiency during time-limited sampling windows.
Even under increasingly cold conditions later in the season and with the added payload weight, Pamela’s battery performance remained reliable and more than sufficient for the planned sampling operations.
Andrea Knutsen assembling the USV Pamela before sampling (Photo: Maria Guttu/Akvaplan-niva)
Learning Through Collaboration
Projects like JellySafe play an important role in how we develop and refine our technology. By working closely with researchers and testing our systems in real scientific workflows, we gain valuable insight into how our products are used in practice and how they can continue to evolve.
Each collaboration helps inform future improvements, ensuring that our platforms remain aligned with the needs of researchers working in diverse environments and under varying field conditions. This iterative, user-driven approach is central to how we develop both USV Pamela and our portable pumping solutions.
Complementary Tools for Applied eDNA Research
One of the key outcomes of JellySafe is the demonstration of how manual and autonomous sampling tools can be combined within a single monitoring program. Using both our eDNA sampler and USV Pamela allowed the research team to tailor sampling strategies to specific questions, sites, and operational constraints.
“Having access to both systems made the sampling much more flexible,” Andrea notes. “They complemented each other well and made it easier to collect a comprehensive dataset.”
This combination highlights the value of integrated toolkits for applied eDNA research, particularly in operational settings such as aquaculture.
Field equipment for weekly sampling (Photo: Andrea Knutsen/NTNU)
What's next?
The collected samples are currently being processed and analyzed, and the results will form a central part of Andrea Knutsen’s master’s thesis. The analysis will evaluate the performance of different sampling strategies, extraction methods, and detection technologies, with the goal of identifying practical workflows for near–real-time Apolemia monitoring.
We look forward to sharing insights from the completed study and to continuing our collaboration with Akvaplan-niva. Projects like JellySafe illustrate how close partnerships between researchers and technology developers can advance environmental monitoring and strengthen the aquaculture industry’s resilience to emerging biological threats.
The JellySafe project is financed by FHF (The Norwegian Seafood Research Fund), led by Institute of Marine Research and partners are Sintef Ocean, NIVA, NCE Aquaculture, University of Bergen, Åkerblå, Patogen and Akvaplan-niva.
